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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheem 1.

H. S. WEBSTER.

FOLDING TABLE.

No. 328,990. 7 Patented 001;; 27, 1885.

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H. s. WEBSTER.

FOLDING TABLE.

No. 328,990. Patented Oct. 27, 1885. w

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

H. S. WEBSTER. FOLDING TABLE.

No. 328,990. Patented Oct. 27, 1885.

v W4 44 i 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

, H. s. WEBSTER.

(No Model.)

FOLDING TABLE.

Patented 0013 27, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

HANSON S. WEBSTER, OF-

PATENT Urrrcn. 5

BOONVILLE, NEW YORK.

FOLDING TABLE.

QPECIPIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,990, dated Dotober 27,1885. Application filed July 3, 1884. Serial No. 136,792. (No model.)

Be it known that I, HANSON S. WEBSTER, of Boonville, county of Oneida, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon;

My invention has relation to tables and stands such as are employed for domestic and other purposes, and has forits object the production of a simple, cheap, and durable article of the class named whereof the legs may be compactly folded against the under side of the top board and then the sections of the top board folded so as to cover the legs, the construction being calculated to economize room forstoring, packing, and shipping, to preserve the desired solidity of the article when opened for use, and to afford ease of manipulation as well as cheapness of manufacture. To accom plish this object, my improvements involve certain novel and useful peculiarities of construction, relative arrangements or combinations of parts, and principles of operation, all of which will be herein first fully described and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan of the top of an extension-table. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, having my improvements applied thereon and showing the legs in position for use. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the under side of same table,showing the legs in folded position. Fig. 4c is a plan of the top, showing the same extended and the usual extra leaves applied therein. Fig. 5 is an end elevation showing the legs in position for use, and Fig. 6 a similar view showing the table as it appears when the legs are folded against the under side of the top. Fig. 7 is a plan of the top, omitting the extra leaves shown in Fig. 4.. Fig. 8 is a side elevation, Fig. 9 an end elevation, and Fig. 10 a plan view. showing the table with all its parts in folded position. Fig. '11 is a perspective view showing my improvements applied upon a table with a plain top or one not of the extensible pattern, one pair of the legs being folded against the under side of the top board and the other pair extended as for use. Fig. 12 is a plan of the top of table shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a side elevation, and Fig. 14. a top or plan view,wherein the parts are represented as compactly folded together. In all these figures like letters of reference, wherever they occur, indicate corresponding parts. I p A A represent the main sectionsof the top board of the table,which in Figs. 1 to 10 is of the extensible pat-tern. I B B are the legs of the table, secured to string-pieces G O, which are hinged to the under side of the top board and made in two parts, which two parts are hinged one to the other, as at b b. The two parts into which each of the string-pieces O G are divided are of unequal lengths, as shown, and the shorter part on one end of the table is located opposite. the longer part on the other end of the table, so thatthe legs will fold by each other with out interfering and without necessitating the cutting away of either leg,as has been hereto fore proposed. The effect of this arrangement is to afford an equally-extended bearing under each end of the table, and also to enable me to make the legs symmetrical and all of the same size, besides obviating the cutting away of any part of the legs.

The two main parts of the extensiontable are connected by the usual extensible slides, (represented at D D,) and capable of being spread apart so as to permit the introduction of the separate leaves E E, Fig. 4.. The main sections are divided, as along the line a a,and

the axes of the hinges b b, by which the un equal sections of the string-piecesare connected, are located inthe same vertical plane as the division between the parts of each main section, so that after the legs are folded flat upon theunder side of the top board the'top board may be folded over one part upon the other, as represented in Figs. 8, 9, and 10.

F F are hinged and jointed braces, one end of which is connected 'to the under side of the table-top and the other to the legs, as represented. The purpose of these braces is to hold the legs firmly when in position for use. The two parts of each brace should be of equal length, and the points of attachment to the table-top and to the legs should be about equally distant from the axes of the hinges c c, by

I which the string-pieces are connected with the table-top, so that the legs may be easily folded.

At 9 g are simple gravitating detents for maintaining the braces in their proper position when the legs are open, so as to prevent accidental movement of the braces. To fold the legs, the detents are simply moved out of place with the thumb or finger, the braces bent up slightly at the middle, and the legs moved upon the hinges c.

The brace and the detent herein shown are intended to represent the best means which I have been able to devise for holding the legs in extended position. I make no special claim herein to the brace and detent, reserving the same for the subject of a separate application for Letters Patent. The legs and the string-pieces are so located on the under side of the top board that the legs will lap one by the other without interference with each other or with the jointed braces, as plainly indicated in Fig. 3. The two main sections of the extension-table being closedv together and the legs folded,the top board is then folded one part upon the other, as indicated in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, when the whole device will occupy but very little space, measured in plan by half the size of the table-top. When folded up, the legs and all the attachments lie between the two parts of the table-top, in which position the table may be readily and easily boxed or otherwise packed for shipment without the necessity of wrapping the legs, as heretofore practiced. The extension-table may or may not have the rounded corners, as indicated.

In Figs. 11 to 14 a rectangular table-top is shown with my improvements applied thereon, the said top being divided only in one direction for purposes of folding. The attachments are mounted and arranged for operation the same as in the extension-table. In either case the string-pieces afford a solid and substantial bearing for the table-top when opened outand made ready for use. 4

The tables may be of any size, and light or heavy, as may be desired. They are easy to fold and unfold or open out, and possess all the advantages of the ordinary tables, in addition to increased advantages in the matter of compactness in storing and shipping.

When constructed substantially in accordance with the-foregoing explanations, the improved tables will be found to admirably answer the purpose or object of the invention, as previously set forth.

I am aware that folding tables have heretofore been made with the top board and crossrails cut in two, and hinged so as to fold upon a center line, and I do not, broadly, claim such; and I amalso aware that the end rails with the two legs attached have been set to one side slightly, to permit the legs to fold down by the side of the other end; but rails thus arranged have not been cut in unequal sections and hinged to fold in the manner I have shown and described.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a table, the legs secured upon stringpieces, each string-piece being divided into two parts of unequal lengths, said parts being hinged together, as explained, and each part hinged to the under side of the divided top board and combined therewith, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a table of the character herein-set forth, the top board divided into two parts, the legs secured to string-pieces hinged upon the under side of the table-top, eachstring piece being composed of two parts of unequal lengths connected by a hinge the axis of which is located in the same plane as the division between the section of the table-top, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a folding table, the legs secured upon string-pieces which are hinged to the under side of the table-top, said string-pieces being each composed of two parts of unequal lengths hinged together, as explained, and combined with and arranged upon the under side of the table-top, as set forth, so that the legs will fold one by the other, and so that the legs will spread equally under each end of the table, substantially in the manner and for the purposes specified. v

4. In combination with the table-top, and the legs secured tothe unequal sections of the divided string-pieces, hinged to each other and to the table-top, the hinged and jointed braces, applied and operating substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

5. The herein-described extension-table, the same being composed of the tabletop having the two main sections each divided, as explained, the extensible slides connecting the two main sections, the legs connected with the unequal sections of the divided string-pieces hinged together and to the table-top, and the hinged and jointed braces, substantially as shown, and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

HANSON S. WEBSTER.

Witnesses:

JOHN BUCKLER, WORTH Oscoon.

ICO 

